President Obama will be speaking on the UW-Madison campus, and obviously, they expect a huge crowd, but I have watched students walk through the mall, the central crossroads of campus, for years, and I think they mostly have their computers, they surely have backpacks or big bags of one kind or another, and there's lots of food and drink. So anyone who wants to go to the event and is paying attention to the rules will need to plan ahead.

You can't just come over after class, because you'll have your backpack and laptop. And if you're just passing through and thinking of hanging out, because you're somewhat interested, you're going to be turned away because you have the stuff you normally have, and suddenly it's a national security threat. The screening process begins at 3:30 and the event goes on for several hours, and you're supposed to get by without anything to drink.

I'm sure they'll get a good crowd here anyway, but it's got to be a big irritation for many students to be rejected simply for having your normal gear. What if you come to campus by bus or a long walk?

Also, obviously, they don't want people with signs. No "posters." But I'm sure UW students know how to concoct signage without getting snagged by any of the restrictions. At the Class of 1995 law school reunion on Friday, I saw a video that included — among other things — the way some law students spelled out "UW Law" on the 50 yard line at the football stadium. With 4 willing souls, one being 2 letters wide, they accomplished the free expression. They can take away your posters, but they can't take away your underpants.

Ah, but you need to be respectful and hear out what the President says, which is — I assume — that you really need to vote for Democrats in November. That's the message. It's nothing loftier than that. It's a big political rally, snarling Madison traffic — on our narrow isthmus — blocking passage through the center of campus, and depriving us of our computers and our freedom of expression.

Ever since the advent of the great Hydration Revolution, young people have been unable to survive without immediate access to drinking water. But evildoers may substitute other liquids for this vital fluid.

The only humane solution is for Obama to bring water with him, preferably in half liter bottles with the Presidential Seal so they become souvenirs instead of litter.

Does anybody know whether George W. Bush had such stringent restrictions on people attending his events? I know his father didn't.

Bush 41 was pre-9/11, remember. Things were a good bit looser. I doubt Dubya forbade posters - that seems to be a Demo thing, starting with Willie - and the food and drink thing strikes me as inspired by the air travel restriction, as do the laptops.

Unless the Zero is afraid the students will throw rotten tomatoes because they know they won't have any jobs when they graduate.

"Ah, but you need to be respectful and hear out what the President says."

Yeah, right - I'm sure that Bush would have been treated respectfully had he spoken at a rally in Madison.

Obama is a disaster - let him know it! Don't allow yourself to be used as a campaign prop! It's too bad Russ has a previous commitment in Hayward (or fill in the name of other small northeastern Wisconsin town) that day!

"The only humane solution is for Obama to bring water with him, preferably in half liter bottles with the Presidential Seal so they become souvenirs instead of litter."

This is actually a very good idea. I was thinking something similar, that they ought to have drinking water there but I didn't think of having something like the Presidential Seal or other label that made them souvenirs. Smart.

Synova: That's a good idea! The WH could bring uncountable supplies of bottled water with the symbol of the WH thereupon imprinted. Sell them for $5 a go and at least something will be done to start reducing the national debt!

I lived in Columbus when Bush and Gore were running and they both came to town several times. Which means they would shut down the highway from downtown to the airport. At rush hour. When I was in high school I was in DC for a school trip and saw Carter leaving the white house in a two car convoy in traffic.

That's the message. It's nothing loftier than that. It's a big political rally, snarling Madison traffic — on our narrow isthmus — blocking passage through the center of campus, and depriving us of our computers and our freedom of expression.

"I lived in Columbus when Bush and Gore were running and they both came to town several times. Which means they would shut down the highway from downtown to the airport. At rush hour. When I was in high school I was in DC for a school trip and saw Carter leaving the white house in a two car convoy in traffic."

This post brought to mind a question that I had last basketball season. Several times last year Obama was seen with front row seats at an NBA or NCAA basketball game. I often wondered what inconveniences that caused the fans. So are fans forbidden their food and drinks? How about larger purses or backpacks? If the answer is no, then why those restrictions in Madison? If the answer is yes.........hmmm I'll be charitable here and not ask the question I have in mind. At least in Madison folks will be there to see Obama.

I predict we'll see a new feeding of the masses. With two bottles of Aquafina and gluten free Honey Oat Bread, Obama will be able to fill the stomachs and quench the first of the masses who come to hear him.

Actually, I can imagine legitimate security reasons for all these restrictions, except for the one on posters. That one is a bald-faced, un-American effort to silence dissent. And it makes me think the rest of the restrictions, while plausibly necessary, probably aren't.

The Mall after the Restoring Honor Rally was spotless. Trash was neatly piled in bags at designated locations. The Mall after President Barack Hussein Obama's inauguration looked like there had recently been a riot, or a trash collectors strike. No food, no water, and no backpacks is to prevent people from bringing and leaving trash. They know what kind of people these are. They will scream bloody murder about sacrifices we need to make to save the planet, but will trash any space they occupy.

The "No signs" is because the Pres can not help himself and respond to hecklers and critics in the crowd. His handlers figure if there are no critical signs to distract him, he will have an easier time reading the teleprompter. It is amazing that he would respond to hecklers from the left when he is with what should be a friendly audience.

This White House have consideration for the little people.Think you have it bad, a couple of weeks ago Obummer shut down the West Side of Los Angeles at rush hour. Normally 30 minute jaunts balloned to a couple of hours. Nomention from the White House on the carbon footprint that bit of elitism left,a few thousand cars left idling while he raised some cash.

The security restrictions sound exactly the same as the ones for getting into Camp Randall for a football game (down to the 8.5x11 backpacks). It smells like a Homeland Security recommendation to the University, kind of thing.

I've also read that food will be sold with the secured area. As for the traffic concern, relax. What's the difference between this event and any other that regularly happens in this town (football, hs championship tournaments, Ironman, marathons and such)? Nothing, actually. Anyway, you could walk to work, right?

We had thought of going, after work, but may just hang ouside on the periphary.

As pointed out above, just be glad that you don't live in LA. When they shut down traffic and airspace, a lot more were inconvenienced, and for likely a lot longer. All for a fund raiser that few if any of the commuters who were inconvenienced for hours could have afforded attending. This time, at least, it is for a rally that a lot of people will be able to attend. In other words, if you divide the number attending by the number inconvenienced, this doesn't look so bad, in comparison with LA.

Besides, most of those who will be inconvenienced voted for the President anyway, and so are irrelevant to the calculations.

Does anybody know whether George W. Bush had such stringent restrictions on people attending his events? I know his father didn't.

I was working at Wake Forest during the time the debate was held there, and it was insane. They blocked out the windows in the bell tower with plywood and even posted armed men in the trees along the quad.We were informed one month beforehand that all our identities would be checked, and we all had to wear special ID tags to work. No one could park on campus that day- even hours before the event- and if you tried to take a shortcut to get onto campus, Secret Service nabbed you and demanded ID, etc. Dorms near the debate space were cleared; in some cases students were locked out without warning. It was crazy and I was just glad to put in my time and go home that day.

For what he has done to the country in less than two years, Obambi ought to live in fear for the rest of his sneering, whining, existence. God, I cannot wait until the real dirt on this loser starts to get published.

Ah, but you need to be respectful and hear out what the President says, which is — I assume — that you really need to vote for Democrats in November. That's the message. It's nothing loftier than that.

The comparisons to Lincoln ended rather quickly and any resurrection would be laughable.

The Man of Change, He Who Had Been Waiting for Himself, is just another third rate early 21st century politician.

We've had other Presidents like that: Tyler, Fillmore, Buchanan. The aftermath was very ugly.

"Does anybody know whether George W. Bush had such stringent restrictions on people attending his events? I know his father didn't."

When I graduated from Yale in 2001, newly-minted President George W. Bush spoke briefly at the main commencement ceremony in the Old Campus. Everyone was herded through metal detectors and wanded, and bags were searched, but there were no restrictions about food or drink or anything else that I can recall. Of course there was the obligatory "protest" from some of the students, i.e. people holding up various little signs printed on neon-colored Xerox paper and turning their backs to the stage when Dubya spoke. There was probably an extensive Secret Service sweep of the whole area, and I remember seeing government snipers in Harkness Tower. I also noted that there were several duplicate Presidential limousines at the different gates leading from Old Campus, and that when they left they left fast, flying down Elm Street at top speed. But all in all, it wasn't anything particularly onerous, at least for the gowned.

I believe that children are our future.Teach them well and let them lead the wayShow them all the beauty they possess insideGive them a sense of pride to make it easierLet the children's laughter remind us how we used to be

Everybody searching for a heroPeople need someone to look up toI never found anyone to fulfill my needsA lonely place to beSo I learned to depend on me

I decided long agoAlways to give myself one more chanceIf I fail, if I succeedAt least I am free to sing and danceNo matter what they take from meThey can't take away my underpants

Chorus:Because the greatest love of allIs happening to meI found the greatest love of allInside of meThe greatest love of allIs easy to achieveLearning to love yourselfIt is the greatest love of allEven if Christine O'DonnellOpposes it